If you can confirm noise is coming from pump then first I would do a search of fuel pump problems. There are two filters on pump pick-up that have been noted as being partially plugged by members, don't recall specific symptoms.
Also, access hole is just to remove electrical and fuel connections, tank has to be dropped to remove pump according to Ford manual. Haynes' manual shows extraction of pump thru' access hole. I don't know which is correct, but I do recall one member posted of enlarging hole to allow pump removal.
how-to
edit: link added.
